Summary

Having a hepatitis A infection provides lifelong immunity against hepatitis A, but not against hepatitis B or hepatitis C.

Immunisation is the best protection against hepatitis A infection and is recommended for people in high-risk groups.

Common immunisation side effects are usually mild and temporary (occurring in the first few days after vaccination) and do not require specific treatment.

From 22 January 2018 until 31 December 2018 all men who have sex with men, and all men and women who have injected drugs in the past 12 months, who live in Victoria, can access hepatitis A vaccine for free.

Free hepatitis A vaccination in 2018 for high-risk groups

Since March 2017 the number of confirmed cases of hepatitis A has increased across Victoria. To stop the spread of this disease the Victorian Government has introduced a free, two-dose hepatitis A vaccination program for all Victorian men who have sex with men and all people who have injected drugs in the past 12 months.

Eligible people will be able to get access to the free, two-dose course of hepatitis A vaccine from 22 January until 31 December 2018.

About hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is a viral disease that affects the liver. Anyone can be infected with hepatitis A if they have direct contact with food, drinks or objects contaminated by the faeces (poo) of an infected person. There have also been outbreaks associated with eating contaminated shellfish and among particular groups, including people who inject illegal drugs and men who have sex with men. Hepatitis A is also common in developing countries where hygiene standards are poor.

Outbreaks can also occur in childcare centres. Children under five years of age often don’t show any symptoms, but can infect childcare workers or other children, especially if care is not taken during nappy changing. The first sign of an outbreak is usually when a parent or childcare worker becomes sick.

Symptoms may last for several weeks, but full recovery usually occurs. A single infection of hepatitis A does lead to lifelong immunity.

To be protected against hepatitis A when you haven't had the disease, you need to have completed a course of hepatitis A vaccination. Hepatitis A vaccine courses are either two doses of hepatitis A vaccine, or three doses of the hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccines are given as a combination. If you are unsure whether you have been vaccinated or have had an incomplete vaccine course, ask your doctor or vaccine provider.

It is important to remember that hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis C are caused by different viruses, are spread in different ways and require different treatments. This means that prior infection with one type of virus won’t offer any immunity against the others.

Symptoms of hepatitis A

You can fall ill any time between 15 and 50 days after catching the virus. The average incubation period for the virus is 28 days. Many infected people, particularly children less than five years old, show few or no symptoms.

For older children and adults, the symptoms include:

fever

nausea

abdominal discomfort

dark urine

yellow skin and eyes (jaundice).

Symptoms may last for several weeks, but full recovery usually occurs.

Complications of hepatitis A

Relapses of hepatitis A occur in around 10 per cent of cases, although people who have relapses fully recover. Hepatitis A does not cause chronic liver disease.
Complications of hepatitis A are rare but the infection can lead to fulminant hepatitis, which is an acute form of hepatitis that can cause liver failure. The risk of death from fulminant hepatitis increases with age.

Causes of hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is caused by a virus. The virus can survive for several hours outside the body but persists on the hands and in food for even longer and is resistant to heating and freezing.

The virus is spread when it enters the mouth, which can happen when hands, foods or other items are contaminated with the faeces of a person with hepatitis A. The disease can also be spread sexually by oral or anal contact. A person with hepatitis A is infectious from two weeks before they show symptoms to one week after they become jaundiced.

Reducing the risk of hepatitis A

The most important action you can take to protect yourself is to get vaccinated.

Practising strict personal hygiene is also essential to reducing the risk of hepatitis A. Steps you can take include:

Washing your hands with soap and hot running water before handling food, after going to the toilet and after handling used condoms or having contact with nappies or the anal area of another person.

Boiling your drinking water if it comes from an untreated source, such as a river.

People travelling overseas, particularly to countries where hepatitis A is widespread, need to take special care to avoid hepatitis A. Before travelling, talk to your doctor about immunisation for protection.

Careful selection and preparation of food and drink in countries where hepatitis A is widespread is vital and suggestions include:

Diagnosis of hepatitis A

blood test – a sample of your blood will be sent to a laboratory to confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment for hepatitis A

There is no specific treatment for hepatitis A. In most cases, your immune system will clear the infection and your liver will completely heal. Treatment aims to ease symptoms and reduce the risk of complications. Options may include:

Rest – hepatitis A can make you tired and you have less energy for day-to-day life, so you should rest when necessary.

Eat small meals more often - nausea can affect your ability to eat and can contribute to tiredness, so eat high-calorie foods if nausea is a problem.

Protect your liver – the liver processes medication and alcohol, so avoid alcohol and review any medication with your doctor.

Exposure to hepatitis A

If you’ve been in contact with someone with hepatitis A and you are not immune (have not been immunised or have never had a hepatitis A infection), speak with your doctor about your treatment options.

Immunisation against hepatitis A

Healthy people 12 months of age and over receive two doses of hepatitis A vaccine, or three doses if the hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccines are given as a combination. If your vaccine course is complete, you do not need a booster dose of hepatitis A vaccine. You can complete any missed vaccine doses, even if the recommended time frame has passed. You do not need to start the vaccine course again.

Close contacts of a person with hepatitis A should receive the hepatitis vaccine, if they have not already completed a vaccine course. For babies under 12 months of age and for people who have a medical condition such as a weakened immune system, who are also in close contact with a person with hepatitis A, an injection of normal human immunoglobulin (also called passive immunisation) can be used.

Immunisation is the best protection against hepatitis A infection and is recommended for people in high-risk groups. Immunisation against hepatitis A includes a course of injections over a six- to 12-month period. Protection against hepatitis A is available free of charge under the National Immunisation Program Schedule for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children (between 12 and 24 months) who live in high-risk areas (Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia and South Australia).

In Victoria, the vaccine is recommended (but not free) for:

people (12 months of age and over) travelling to places where hepatitis A is common

people whose work puts them at increased risk of infection including plumbers or sewage workers and those who work with children, with people with developmental disabilities or with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in rural or remote Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia or Western Australia

people with developmental disabilities

people with liver disease or people who have had a liver transplant or have chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis C

men who have sex with men

workers in the sex industry.

Since March 2017, there has been an increasing number of confirmed cases of hepatitis A across Victoria. To stop the spread of this disease, the Victorian government has introduced a free, two dose hepatitis A vaccination program for all Victorian men who have sex with men and all men and women who have injected drugs in the past 12 months.

Eligible people will be able to get access to the free, two dose course of hepatitis A vaccine from 22 January until 31 December 2018.

Remember that immunisation against hepatitis A does not protect you against hepatitis B or hepatitis C. It is important that you take precautions to make sure you are not exposed to these diseases.

Pregnancy and hepatitis A immunisation

Hepatitis A immunisation is not usually recommended for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding although vaccination might be recommended in some situations. You should speak with your doctor if you are not immune to hepatitis A and you are at increased risk of infection or if you have a pre-existing medical condition such as liver disease.

Pre-immunisation checklist

Before receiving the vaccine, tell your doctor or nurse if you (or your child):

are unwell (temperature over 38.5 ˚C)

have allergies to any other medications or substances

have had a serious reaction to any vaccine

have had a serious reaction to any component of the vaccine

have had a severe allergy to anything

have a disease or you are having treatment that causes low immunity

are taking any prescription or over-the-counter medications

are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.

Side effects of immunisation against hepatitis A

Immunisations against hepatitis A are effective and safe, although all medications can have unwanted side effects.

Side effects from the vaccine are uncommon and usually mild, but may include:

localised pain, redness and swelling at the injection site

low-grade temperature (fever).

Managing fever after immunisation

Common side effects following immunisation are usually mild and temporary (occurring in the first few days after vaccination). Specific treatment is not usually required.

There are a number of treatment options that can reduce the side effects of the vaccine including:

giving extra fluids to drink and not overdressing if there is a fever although routine use of paracetamol after vaccination is not recommended, if fever is present, paracetamol can be given - check the label for the correct dose or speak with your pharmacist, (especially when giving paracetamol to children).

Managing injection site discomfort

Many vaccine injections may result in soreness, redness, itching, swelling or burning at the injection site for one to two days. Paracetamol might be required to ease the discomfort.

Concerns about immunisation side effects

If the side effect following immunisation is unexpected, persistent or severe or if you are worried about yourself or your child’s condition after a vaccination, see your doctor or immunisation nurse as soon as possible or go directly to a hospital. Immunisation side effects may be reported to SAEFVIC, the Victorian vaccine safety and central reporting service.

You can discuss with your immunisation provider how to report adverse events in other states or territories. It is also important to seek medical advice if you (or your child) are unwell, as this may be due to other illness rather than because of the vaccination.

Rare side effects of hepatitis A immunisation

There is a very small risk of a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to any vaccine. This is why you are advised to stay at the clinic or medical surgery for at least 15 minutes following immunisation in case further treatment is required.

Immunisation and HALO

The immunisations you may need are decided by your health, age, lifestyle and occupation. Together, these factors are referred to as HALO.

Talk to your doctor or immunisation provider if you think you or someone in your care has health, age, lifestyle or occupation factors that could mean immunisation is necessary. You can check your immunisation HALO using the downloadable poster (pdf)

Things to remember

Having a hepatitis A infection provides lifelong immunity against hepatitis A, but not against hepatitis B or hepatitis C.

Immunisation is the best protection against hepatitis A infection and is recommended for people in high-risk groups.

From 22 January 2018 until 31 December 2018 all Victorian men who have sex with men (MSM) and all men and women who have injected drugs in the past 12 months can access a free, two-dose course of hepatitis A vaccine.

Common immunisation side effects are usually mild and temporary (occurring in the first few days after vaccination) and do not require specific treatment.

Content Partner

This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:
Department of Health and Human Services - RHP&R - Health Protection - Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Unit

Last updated:
February 2018

Content on this website is provided for education and information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not imply endorsement and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional. Content has been prepared for Victorian residents and wider Australian audiences, and was accurate at the time of publication. Readers should note that, over time, currency and completeness of the information may change. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions.